Harrisburg City Council in January
Harrisburg city council discussed on Tuesday a resolution that would stop the mayor from appointing department heads without their approval.
At a work session, council briefly talked about legislation that would amend the code to clarify how long acting department heads can serve before requiring council’s consent.
The legislation comes after a legal battle between Mayor Wanda Williams and council.
Williams sued council for defunding several top city positions as part of the 2026 budget. As an explanation for defunding and partially defunding two of the positions, the business administrator and director of building and housing development, council said that those directors had remained in temporary roles past 120 days, at which time “acting” directors are supposed to be approved by council. Williams had maintained that they were not “acting,” but “interim” directors, a title that is not in the city code, but which mayors have used in the past.
Council won the lawsuit and, soon after, council and the mayor came to an agreement that a few positions would be refunded, and that Williams would end the practice of appointing “interim” directors.
Council’s proposed amendment on Tuesday would further clarify the process of appointing “acting” directors by saying that, after 120 days, acting heads’ salaries would be halted.
“This was a good thing that we were able to get it in this form so that it’s understood by not only us, but any future council members and future administrations,” said council member Lamont Jones. “One of the things we got out of this was putting to bed old practices from previous administrations.”
Council also discussed a new ordinance, initiated by council member Ralph Rodriguez, that would have the city install trash cans outside of corner stores and bodegas. The ordinance would also require the store owners to keep them up, but the city would regularly empty them, as well.
Rodriguez said that he proposed the ordinance in response to concern from residents about trash and in conjunction with the city’s comprehensive plan.
“It was just something that, not only myself, but a lot of community members, for as long as I’ve been on council, have spoken about corner store ordinances and the cleanliness of our neighborhoods,” Rodriguez said.
Director of Public Works Dave West assured council that the city would make sure the cans were emptied and not overflowing.
Council is slated to vote on both bills at next week’s legislative session.
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